Calyptraphorus, also known by its alternative spelling Calyptrophoris, is an extinct genus of sorbeochonid gastropod that belongs to the family Rostellariidae. It had a global distribution occurring from the Cretaceous period to the mid-Pliocene epoch. Members of this genus were likely epifaunal grazers.Kase, Tomoki & Aguilar, Yolanda. (2014). The Gastropod Genus Calyptraphorus (Rostellariidae: Stromboidea: Mollusca): A Lazarus Taxon from the Pliocene of the Philippines. Paleontological Research. 18. 169-175. 10.2517/2014PR016.
Evolutionary history The earliest records of this genus date back to the Cretaceous period possibly during the Campanian age although it seems that the formation was found in is possibly Maastrichtian age. During the Cretaceous, members of this genus can be found in Mexico and Mali. This genus would subsequently survive the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event (K-Pg) that ended the Mesozoic era. During the Paleogene, this genus can be found in a wide range of places including Mexico, United States (Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland), Mali and Nigeria. During the Eocene epoch their range would include Mexico, Peru, the United States (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland) India and Saudi Arabia.
It was thought that Calyptraphorus had become extinct before the end of the Eocene epoch. However a single specimen that has not been described a species was found in the Tartaro Formation in Northern Luzon (Philippines). This means that the genus temporal range was extended by 30 million years going extinct during the mid-Pliocene epoch. This would also make Calyptraphorus a Lazarus taxon disappearing from the fossil record for a long period of time and reappearing.
Taxonomy
Species This genus currently contains 17 described species. A list of them can be found below:
Calyptraphorus afra (É. Vincent, 1913) Calyptraphorus africanus L. R. Cox, 1952 Calyptraphorus binodiferus Perrilliat & Vega, 1997 Calyptraphorus chelonites C. A. White, 1887 Calyptraphorus ewekoroensis (Adegoke, 1977) Calyptraphorus hollandi Cossmann & Pissarro, 1909 Calyptraphorus hopkinsi Olsson, 1934 Calyptraphorus itamaracensis Muñiz, 1993 Calyptraphorus jacksoni W. B. Clark, 1895 Calyptraphorus lissoni Calyptraphorus stamineus (Conrad, 1855) Calyptraphorus septentrionalis Stanton, 1921 Calyptraphorus stamineus (Conrad, 1855) Calyptraphorus termieri Salvan, 1955 Calyptraphorus terrysmithae Perrilliat, 2013 Calyptraphorus velata Calyptraphorus velatus
This genus also currently contains several (nine) species who lack formal opinion data. Below is a list of these species:
Calyptraphorus aldrichi J. A. Gardner, 1935 Calyptraphorus carrizensis J. A. Gardner, 1945 Calyptraphorus compressus (Aldrich, 1894) Calyptraphorus indicus Cossmann & Pissarro, 1909 Calyptraphorus popenoe J. A. Gardner, 1935 Calyptraphorus trinodiferus Conrad, 1857 Calyptraphorus velates Calyptraphorus velatus (Conrad, 1833) Calyptraphorus velusus
References